Released today at the Arab League Headquarters in Cairo by the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Dr. Amre Mousa, the report was prepared by an independent team of prominent Arab intellectuals and experts in various fields, with the advice of a distinguished panel of advisers. The conclusions of the report are not in any way a statement of UNDP policy.

Despite the growing populations, the report shows that Arab countries have made significant strides in more than one area of human development in the last three decades. The standard of living in Arab countries has advanced, life expectancy is longer than the world average of 67 years, the level of abject poverty is the world's lowest, education spending is higher than elsewhere in the developing world.

Nevertheless, the predominant characteristic of the current Arab reality seems to be the existence of deeply rooted shortcomings in the Arab institutional structure. It also warns that the Arab countries have not developed quickly as comparable nations in other regions. The region lacks open and accountable governance. The women's participation in the workforce, and in political and professional life, trails behind the rest of the world.

The report notes that the region is richer than it is developed, as it argues that the barrier to better performance is not lack of resources, it stresses that what the region needs to ensure a bright future for coming generations is the political will to invest in Arab capabilities and knowledge, particularly those of Arab women, in good governance, and in strong cooperation between Arab nations.

The Arab Human Development report is a new-sprung extension of the global Human Development Report, UNDP's trademark product, which is published annually.